Down System

Chapter 11

Darkness ruled over the sky, yet the stars that shimmered brightly didn't embrace the idea of vanquishing. As I licked the ice cream I was holding, my eyes did not side with the other corner— just focused on the exquisite Luna.

Yet, the loud whoop of joy coming from the crowd had also caught my attention, causing me to steer my sight at the gambling corner.

A group of men was assembled there, cheering for their comrade who was throwing darts, aiming for the inner bullseye. The other men began picking up money from their pouches, holding a look of dismay, when the player hit the double ring. On the contrary, some of them were a whimsy after winning the wager.

I was still licking up my sundae when my eyes caught a circus as I traveled my gaze to the right side; it was about ten-meter-away from me. My aural could pick out the different tonalities of people's shouted, but the play was unfortunately unrecognizable. To my desire of seeing the tricks, I went there without asking permission from my parents who were busily engaged in other activities— shooting a ping-pong ball into a glass to claim a stuffed toy.

My eyes appeared a galaxy of spangles after seeing a man swallowed a fire; after some time, a woman entered the stage and started sharing a fire with that man through her mouth. To my astonishment, I wasn't able to move from my place and could not even shout. These people were knavish, how would they be able to do the trick without their tongues scorching?

I switched from my place when people stood as they clapped their hands with a voice of triumph, which blocked my vision from seeing the inexplicable performance of the entertainers. I had a hard time passing the concourse that I even got wedged and clouted by them.

When I finally arrived in the front, my eyes grew bigger, feeling goosebumps on a man who had a tiger with him. All I thought he would just end up petting his animal, but he proved me wrong as the tiger lift him with its mouth and continuously spun around. I could not even blink at what was the tiger doing to his master; it would throw him into the air and catch again with its crater.

It was a bout of excitement as the performer asked for a volunteer who had the urge to play with his pet; all of the people turned their gazes at me as I raised my hands shouting, "Get me! Get me!"

The entertainer went down on the stage with a grin on his face and took me with him as favored. His smile could not still be faded when he asked me if I was ready enough for the next trick he would show; with a luster of exhilaration playing in the corner of my eyes, I nodded.

A clamor of the public had started to arouse again as the performer carried me and rode me on the tiger, but silence broke out when someone yelled,

"Get down of that tiger, Aleera!"

Everyone's eyes piloted at the back where a woman stood with arms akimbo, frowning at me. It was ghost-quiet that even the tiger was muted of that ornery voice.

Before Mommy Morrigan could speak again and pick me up by herself, the entertainer took me down already and gave me back to her, asking for pardon. She still had the plan to speak, not when Daddy Perseus came, holding a restless mien.

My father was still to hug me, but Mommy immediately grabbed my hands and took me away from the circus.

We headed back to the car although Daddy's brow was still creased because of what was happening. Mommy asked my dad to start the engine, but Daddy did not follow since he was clueless all long.

"Morrigan, I can't understand," Daddy said. "Why are you so mad whereas we've found Aleera already?"

"I don't think if you're only acting stupid, Perseus. Our daughter departed her way to us again and again, without letting us know! How could you be fine with that?"

"Of course, I was also worried, but will we just forget that and enjoy the fair anyway? It's not getting better with your sullen face."

"That's the bad thing about you, Perseus, you're tolerating your daughter. If you really want her to grow, teach her a lesson!"

"I'm also doing my part, Morrigan!" Daddy shouted that made Mommy's tears shed down. "I'm sorry," he touched her hands, "I didn't mean to hurt you. Honey, you know I'm also doing my best to secure our daughter, to guide her in everything so that she could be the best of her, but-"

"I'm sorry, Mommy and Daddy," I uttered, which made them avert their sight at me. "I just wanted to watch the circus, but you were too busy with the ping-pong game, so I didn't bother you for your happiness to not halt."

Mommy let out a deep sigh and went to me in the backseat. "But you've made a promise, right, Aleera?" she asked. "You told us you won't go away again all by yourself. I hope you understand that we are doin' this for your sake."

"I know, Mommy. I'm really sorry for causing you trouble again."

"Cut it," Daddy intervened. "Can we go back now? I still like to have a ride with you two at the ferris wheel."

"F-ferris wheel?" I gaped at him.

Daddy nodded. "It sounds scary but promise... when you're already at the top, all your fears will be swept away. And since you're turning thirteen, I'm already allowing you to take the ride."

"Goodness, Perseus," Mommy tapped her head, releasing again a sigh.

In the end, the three of us went back to the funfair and got on the Ferris wheel, as said.

Daddy Perseus was right— Ferris wheel would scare you to death but when you got used to it, the fear would slowly fade until you finally had seen the ride's beauty.

So was life.

Life was a horrible ride. When you started getting on, numerous surprises would welcome you along the way— some would continue to feed your trepidation, but some would fend off the panic that was in you. Anywise, eventually, you would be able to discover the paramount pulchritude of the trek you didn't choose to have, but you chose to take.

Down the Ferris wheel was the exquisite view of Hades. It appeared like there were also stars from beneath because of the street lights which filled the whole city.

I closed my eyes as the cold air breeze brushed my skin. It was a fun eventide in the fair, and it happened to be a fun sunny time as well in the school in the following days. After the treasured moment with my parents for that one starry night, I was again in Ragwarths, taking time to learn with my friends and classmates.

"One, two, three..." the teacher counted as we performed our daily exercises in the field.

I beamed while doing the task. I loved working on my physical wellness without being pressured. I had other people to act with me, so exercising had never been a drawback for me.

After some time, the instructor had given us a time to break— whether to fancy resting or continue being active. My friends and I preferred playing volleyball since the activity we accomplished was not much arduous. Especially, the sunshine was too crisp to miss gaming under it.

There was a gaiety of laughter on us while playing, not until the ball I spiked, hit a boy who was walking at the side of the oval.

"Oh my..." I whispered, covering my mouth with my hands in great surprise.

The boy did not veer his gaze at us, but he did stop walking, so I abruptly ran to him to ask forgiveness.

"Hey," I called. "I'm sorry for hitting your head with the ball. I know it hurts, but swear it's unintentional."

There was silence between us for a moment, but when the boy turned around, my whole body screamed.

"F-ferno?" I uttered.

"Forgiven," he said, "but please, don't talk to me anymore after this." He faced his back at me and planned to leave, but before he could do that, I spoke,

"What's wrong with you?"

Ferno didn't reply, thus, kept on walking.

"I said what's wrong with you!" My heart pounded as he halted. "Can you please decently talk to me so I could know what's wrong? You're a friend to me if only you know, and I wanted to hear from you what's going on, 'cos I really don't know."

One of my pals came to pick up the ball and to invite me again to the field, but I used an alibi to not come with her for a minute. And when it was again only Ferno and I that were left in the area, he spoke,

"We're not friends," without looking at me, "and I don't treat you as my friend, so you know."

Tears were forming in my eyes but I tried to hold them as long as I could. "Why?" I asked. "Do you hate me?"

"No," he said affirmed, "but it's because I hate women. Now, you fine?"

This time, I could not stop myself anymore from crying. I did my all to not create any sound because he might hear me, and I didn't want that. Before he could even see me with these tears ruling over my face, I wiped them but they couldn't be vanished, unfortunately.

Leaves from the trees that covered us two commenced to fall when Ferno contrived to step over.

I clenched my fist. "If you hate women, then why did you protect me in the first place?"